Adding an odd wrinkle to this story is Belfort’s trainer Shawn Tompkins, who semi-responded to the reports on Facebook late last night, writing, "you will recieve Vitor Belfort news very soon…All I can tell you as his coach is that he is 100% healthy." Belfort might be physically sound, but that doesn’t mean he’s not withdrawing from the event for other reasons. Could the UFC be promoting him to an immediate title shot at UFC 125 in Chael Sonnen‘s place? We’ll update you when we know more…

Cagepotato Comments

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While other sites are claiming Vitor was injured, Shawn Thompkins confirmed via Facebook last night that Vitor is 100% healthy.

Also, I was right, Dana just tweeted the following:

Vitor is not injured. He is going to fight Anderson for the title and the winner of Marquart and Okami are next.

TheMadness- September 22, 2010 at 10:27 am

Goddammit Vitor. We'll never see you fight anyone at this rate. Where does he train, in the middle of the wilderness? Are his practice partners bears?

Unless he's replacing Chael at 125, which is cool.

Get Off Me- September 22, 2010 at 9:15 am

Nice to see the UFC waking up a little bit here. Okami would have probably beat Belfort in a snooze fest and that would have taken yet another exciting mw out of contention for a shot at Silva. Sonnen v. Silva 2 should have never been booked in the first place, should have been Okami v. Sonnen again and Vitor v. Silva for the belt. Leben gets Wandy next too, time for some excitement in the MW division again...thank you Jesus!

ArmFarmer- September 22, 2010 at 9:14 am

As soon as the Sonnen got busted for peds my first reaction was "sweet! That means Belfort will get his shot and we'll finally see a truly dangerous striker take on Anderson." That's what I would do if I were makin the calls.. it makes sense. This is a blessing in disguise people.

BryanF- September 22, 2010 at 9:07 am

If what Chael Sonnen says is true, seeing as how Okami and Sonnen are bros for life, and Sonnen really hasn't won a round since training with Okami, I like Okami's odds.

Do you guys wanna see Okami jab Marqhardt's eye out ala Lucio Linhares?

NECROPHYTE- September 22, 2010 at 8:57 am

It would be fkn great to see Belfort sodomize Silva.

DAN THE VIKING- September 22, 2010 at 8:27 am

@ The Fame Burrito

Who-doo? You-doo! The power of the babe...

dcmsm- September 22, 2010 at 8:18 am

and here i thought it was cosmic justice that pulled belfort out of the title picture. God knows he doesnt even come close to deserving a shot at the belt. Silly me for thinking that the same organisation that gave lesnar at 1-1 a title shot would have a shred of integrity.

El Famous Burrito- September 22, 2010 at 8:12 am

Just give the Germans what they want...a main card fight between Hans "The Baker" Hammerschmidt vs. Shlomo Hebrewsteinberg

@Viva hate

Who-doo?

J_Spice- September 22, 2010 at 8:07 am

@dgabriel88

I think everyone hopes he destroys Kos. But i'm with you there i think fighters should have the same drive as a champion as they do when they are trying to become the champion. Take whatever fights whenver they are offered.

dgabriel88- September 22, 2010 at 7:55 am

@J_Spice

Yeah I wouldn't mind that really either. I just don't like when fighters only fight like once or twice a year. GSP for example, getting fed up with him, and when he does fight the last few have been shit. Although I do hope he destroys Koscheck

J_Spice- September 22, 2010 at 7:48 am

LOL @ Fried Taco. That was a good one ha

J_Spice- September 22, 2010 at 7:46 am

@dgabriel88

what we could see is Silva fight on the new years eve card. at 205 then he could do the TUF with Vitor. i'd be ok with that.

Fried Taco- September 22, 2010 at 7:35 am

It wasn't an injury, rather a message from God: "Vitor, be careful you don't get caught like Chael did."

dgabriel88- September 22, 2010 at 7:30 am

If there was to be TUF Brazil if would be sweet but it would also suck for the fact Anderson wouldn't be defending his title for ages then. I'd rather see them just fight on the New Year's Day card.

I was really looking forward to his fight with Okami. If Nate steps in to fight Okami does that make THAT the new #1 contender fight?

Vitor hasn't fought in a long time. I think he needs a fight at 185 before he takes on Anderson. For his own good not Andersons.

dgabriel88- September 22, 2010 at 7:21 am

The New Year's day card is starting to look awesome. Maybe Wanderlei will be fit in time for it too as Leben still needs an opponent.

DAN THE VIKING- September 22, 2010 at 7:20 am

As many have already mentioned this has got to be a lead up to Silva/Belfort. I only want to add one thing, I think its very possible that they announce a TUF Brazil with Anderson and Vitor as the coaches.

You heard it here first folks.

WithoutRemorse- September 22, 2010 at 6:57 am

I really hope this happens...Please Dana.. for Vitor its a win win... he wins, he's awesome - he loses he's just another one of the superstars that's lost to Anderson. I really think that this fight will be interesting... particularly as they don't like each other. Ordinarily guy's who don't like each other is pretty common in the UFC... but two Brazilians that don't like each other... pure fucking magic.

newdeal- September 22, 2010 at 6:54 am

They can't leave Anderson on the shelf for a year waiting for Sonnen to be back and if they have a number one contenders match in a couple months by the time the number one contender could fight again Sonnen would be back so this is the only thing that allows Anderson to not have to wait a year to fight

b-ill- September 22, 2010 at 6:54 am

B-ill is okay with this, as Belfort is the only middleweight I wanna see Silva fight.

cecils_pupils- September 22, 2010 at 6:51 am

It's gonna finally be Vitor vs. Anderson - it's the only thing that makes sense. It sure as hell ain't gonna be Vitor vs. Mumbles, as much as I'd like to see that.